Candice and David Warner lead the way as the Aussie cricket stars celebrate Christmas with their families at the heart of the MCG in heartwarming scenes
- The Warners joined Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and their families at the MCG
- It’s a tradition for Aussie stars, their partners and children to spend the day together
- Cummins and wife Becky welcomed young son Albie to the famous stadium
Australia’s cathedral of sport became a playground for the country’s top cricket stars and their families as they celebrated Christmas day on the MCG turf on Sunday morning.
Many fans and pundits believed opening batsman David Warner would play to save his Test career during Monday’s Boxing Day clash with South Africa, but just 24 hours before he did he didn’t seem to care. world as he, wife. Candice and their daughters had an impromptu game of cricket at one of the world’s most iconic stadiums.
They were joined by captain Pat Cummins, his wife Becky and their toddler son Albie, who enjoyed a piggyback from his father and a soccer kick on the holy ground as his mother looked after him.
David and Candice celebrated the big day by playing cricket with two of their daughters in the middle of the MCG on Sunday
It’s tradition for Aussie stars and their families to come together at Australia’s sporting cathedral on December 25 and the opening batter and his wife made the most of it.
Fast bowler Scott Boland, his wife Clarissa and their two children joined the fun along with spinner Nathan Lyon – and the man Boland beat out for a place in the Boxing Day line-up, Josh Hazlewood, is front and center as well.
It’s a long-standing tradition for Australian cricket families to celebrate Christmas together before the most famous Test in the country’s domestic calendar.
They often hold a big lunch on December 24, and Steve Smith explains how the big day went when he was first called up to the squad ahead of the Boxing Day clash in 2009.
Also getting in on the action was Skipper Pat Cummins, his wife Becky and their toddler son Albie
It was Albie’s second Christmas – but the first time he had run to the hallowed ground where his father will face South Africa on Monday.
The captain recorded the big occasion while Warner and his daughters played in the background
‘We’ll all get together, except for the Victorian guys, who will spend Christmas at home, and be a big family and enjoy each other’s company, share great food and exchange presents,’ he wrote.
‘As a group, we do our own version of Kris Kringle, where each player draws a name from a hat and buys a secret gift for a teammate.’
This year Boland got the best gift of all as he was named in the XI to face South Africa in the second Test of the series.
The Victorian quick will return to the scene of his famous Test debut in December, where the Australian selectors chose Boland over Josh Hazlewood, who continues his recovery from a side strain.
Captain Pat Cummins has confirmed that Australia will stick with the same XI that crushed the Proteas by six wickets in just two days in the first Test at the Gabba.
Fast bowler Scott Boland (pictured with wife Clarissa and their children) got the best Christmas present when he was named in the Aussie XI to face South Africa
Spinner Nathan Lyon (right) was on hand to give some batting tips on the big day
‘We gave Joshy every chance, it just got to a stage where Joshy probably thought he was a bit underdone,’ Cummins said at the MCG on Sunday.
‘This is perhaps the mark of the man who himself thought, ‘I don’t feel quite right’ and pulled himself into the choice.
‘We talk a lot about how it’s a squad mentality, and this is another good example.’
Boland took 25 wickets in his five Tests at a miserly average of 10.36.
The 33-year-old became an instant cult hero of Australian cricket when he ran England to 6-7 at the MCG last year to earn man-of-the-match honors on debut to help Australia retain the Ashes.
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